Shirred Maternity Tunic - from a men's shirt

I bought a couple of gigantic men's shirts at the DI a couple months ago, planning to make maternity shirts out of them using tutorials I'd seen on the DIY maternity website. This is the first one. The second one is in progress--and orange! (love orange)

I started out with a 2XL 50-52 size shirt. I tried it on in the store and pretended to have a giant belly just to make sure it would be big enough. I think it was around $5 for the shirt. Then I followed this tutorial. I'd already made a few maternity items by pattern and by guesswork by this point, so I felt brave enough to try this. The very first DIY maternity dress I made is sitting on my sewing table waiting to be "fixed". It does not fit well and needs help. But it got easier after that first debacle. Everything else is wearable if not perfect, and everything has been unpicked a trillion times since I keep sewing things on backward or patterns don't fit quite right. Sigh.

I followed this tutorial pretty much exactly, except I just zigzagged the edge of the sleeves and rolled them up. I wanted the option of cool or warm weather shirt, but this shirt is still sort of warm. Too warm for really hot days. I did add an additional section of shirring on the center of the back since it was too baggy. My only negative comments are that the collar is a little funny and the shirt is super-wrinkly and there is no way I am ironing it! I guess I should have found a wrinkle-free fabric:)

The coolest thing about this shirt was that the elastic thread bobbin I used for the shirring was wound by my grandmother, Ila (who I named my daughter after)! (I have her sewing closet and all the goodies that came with it--thread, buttons, zippers, patterns, presser feet, etc. I love it!) I was digging through the collection of bobbins and there was one already wound with elastic thread. I have no idea when she wound it, but it was at least twenty years ago.

Anyway, here is the final result:

more evidence of domesticity: maternity swimsuit full panel bottoms

I added a side shot on 7/23/2013. See below.

I made just the bottom portion of a suit out of black nylon/lycra (~80/20 blend) with ruched sides (though ruched only on the front piece of fabric) and a clear elastic sown over the gathered edge for stability. (Same idea/method as discussed in this pattern). There is an elastic just below the bustline that keeps it up.  I used this swimsuit tutorial slightly as a guide, but really just ended up tracing existing bottoms that were too small, guessing, basting, trying it on, cutting more, more basting, try on again, etc. It was just trial and error and the fit is not perfect. I used a zig-zag stitch everywhere so it would stretch at the seams.  I initially was planning on just making a fully panel belly band to wear with a tankini top and bottom, but decided to do it this way instead so it was more comfortable and not cutting into my lower belly. 

I am wearing it with the top of a tankini I already had that has slid up my belly. (This picture is from a few weeks ago, with Ila and her friend Madelyn. I can't believe I'm posting a picture of me in a swimsuit! Oh well:)

And here is the side shot:

evidence of domesticity: pack and play fitted sheet

I've had some domestic fever the last few months. I think its just because I'm bored. David teases me that I'm "nesting" but I object. My Stanford job has been diminishing in time commitment over the last 2 years and now it is finally over. (I worked on digital maps while in California, and continued remotely after moving.) I used to just read in my free time, but I suddenly felt like a change.

Really I've been acting completely out of character, sewing maternity clothes, learning to crochet, making a play mat, sheet, etc. There's a lot I haven't posted yet. But I will.

Here is the latest evidence of domesticity that I made just this morning:

Using some remnant fabric I bought a couple months ago, I made this fitted sheet for Ila's pack and play crib. She's learning to sleep in it since her crib is getting packed in a couple weeks. She's doing just naps for now, and has been doing fine. I put the pack and play in this little closet cubby and she thinks it's the coolest place ever to sleep.

I used this web tutorial: http://prudentbaby.com/2010/02/baby-kid/diy-fitted-sheet-for-pack-n-play-2/
I used only 1/4 inch elastic for it and needed about 62 inches. I cut 3 inch corners (not 3.5 inch) and sewed a 1/2 inch wide channel for the elastic. Other than that I did everything the same. I have a graco pack and play.

The fabric is upside down here, but there are little pink birds on it which I thought were cute.

Here's a cute shot of Ila on her new potty seat. She doesn't actually "use" the potty..just likes to sit for now:) 

On the 4th of July this year we went up to a family reunion for part of David's side of the family in the morning, then in the afternoon swam at my parents house. I forgot Ila's all-important pink seahorse (she sleeps with it and takes it everywhere), so asked my sister Heidi to bring the blue one she has so Ila would have something to calm her. Ila apparently does not discriminate with seahorses. She loves them all equally!

David's run

Just so you know, the title of this post was originally "David's rum."  I should have just left it:)

David ran in a 10k on the morning of the 4th of July! Ila and I walked up to the finish line to meet him. This was sort of a practice race for the half marathon he's planning on doing in Wisconsin in August (after the move).

The family shot. Amazingly enough I don't look obviously pregnant here!

And the one where Ila actually smiles...

Twinko de Mayo recap

This year we recorded Twinko de Mayo. Hope you enjoy this video:)

confessions of a gmail-crazed girlfriend

I've decided to confess.

For those of you who know me personally, you know my email address includes my married name. What most of you do not know is that I created that email address before I was married.

Even before I was engaged.

Even a whole year before I was engaged.

Possibly even within the first two weeks of our relationship.

yes.

it is true.

and beyond embarrassing.

In short, I have owned my email address for 6.5 years now, but my 5 year wedding anniversary is next month.

David likes to tell people this. I have refrained.

But now I speak. I have been married nearly 5 years. I have born DH's child. I am pregnant with our second child. I've decided to own up. But 6.5 years ago, gmail was still new enough that some really good email addresses were still available. What if I married DH and then the perfect email was no longer available? I had to create it IMMEDIATELY or face dire consequences. Very dire indeed. You may spend your whole life trying to get an email address without a number in it. And then you get your chance. And you take it.

I know I'm not the only one.

Confess.

boy!

We had our ultrasound a while back and found out we're having a little boy! We are excited & nervous at the same time. But luckily we don't have to think of a name now that David's nephew has already given us one.

Introducing... Fire Hydrant! Coming this September. (or October...)